DUSHANBE, March 7, Asia-Plus - UNICEF CO in Tajikistan has organized a learning symposium in Dushanbe on the issues related to the preparation for avian influenza pandemic situation.  

The symposium held in Dushanbe on March 5-6 touched upon issues such as government’s capacity to respond in a timely and constructive manner to the information needs of the public, and of the media in the event of emergency situations in healthcare system with special focus on the avian influenza pandemic.  

According to the UNICEF Dushanbe Office, the main objective of the symposium was to provide senior government officials and spokespersons with the opportunity to think through about health crisis communication, including the adequate organization and coordination of relevant agencies, and practical one-on-one simulation of media relations during health emergency situations as well as to enable Tajik national emergencies and health services to significantly reduce public panic in case of pandemic through trust, transparency and authority, as well as inspire confidence and empower individuals to take appropriate action so that the effect of the pandemic will be mitigated.      

Tajikistan has, so far, not had any recorded outbreaks of bird flu.  However, the number of registered cases of avian influenza in the direct proximity to Tajikistan has been increasing and therefore a threat of outbreak of the avian influenza pandemic is increasing.   There is a risk of the avian influenza outbreak among poultry in Tajikistan through waterfowl migration and growing cross-border trade.   

Therefore, officials of healthcare and veterinary services need authentic information to work out a plan of the avian influenza and human pandemic preparedness and response actions.  There are two factors that could impede response to the bird flu outbreak and further pandemic at national level:  limitation of information on the bird flu outbreaks or denial of the fact of such outbreaks or exaggeration of potential danger and problems, which the population could face.  

In the meantime, according to Tajikistan’s customs service, Tajikistan plans to introduce restrictions on imports of chickens and others birds and poultry from the countries, where an outbreak of bird flu was registered.  These measures are being introduced to help prevent the spread of bird flu.